The tourism ministry says it has issued 6,700 special one-week visas so far.

The largest contingent, 2,000, is from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, France, and other European countries.

These figures exclude other nationalities, like Egyptians and Tunisians, who do not require visas for entry.

Prices fixed

But viewing the eclipse from the deserts of Libya will be an expensive matter.

Prices are fixed by the tourism ministry, which issued licences to just five local tourism agencies to handle transport and accommodation.

Libya will have one of the best views of the eclipse

The best - and most expensive - eclipse viewing, from the desert town of Waw Al Namus, 2,000km south of Tripoli, costs 2,200 euros ($2,650) for four day including flights, says Abdel Rizak Rwasht, chairman of the Winzrik tourist agency.

Most flights from Europe will land in nearby desert towns and eclipse enthusiasts will be driven to the designated locations.

According to tourism officials, the special camp sites set up for this event will include full hotel services in four locations: Bir Ghbay, Waw Al Namus, Jalu and Bardi.

Libya is often criticised for its limited tourism infrastructure and organisational capacities.

Confident

"We started to work on the infrastructure of this event in 2003," says Abdulrazzag Abulgassim, head of development in the tourism ministry.

"There will be no problems because the eclipse line is in the desert, so the tourists will come to the camps there and we will take care of security, health and sanitary facilities."

This will be the largest tourist event Libya has ever undertaken.

The authorities here are confident they can do the job.

Libyans are hoping the eclipse event will generate a long-term positive impact on their tourism sector, an industry that has been ignored for decades.